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Preanesthesia Teleconsultation via Voice Call Without Videoconferencing: A Retrospective Study
Julien Raft1,2, Philippe Rauch3, Anne-Sophie Lamotte4
1Department of Anaesthesiology, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
Summary
Teleconsultation via voice call without videoconferencing proved effective for preanesthesia evaluations in breast cancer surgery, showing similar ambulatory surgery failure rates compared to in-person visits. This method demonstrated strong patient acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Services Research
- Telemedicine
Background:
- Teleconsultation, particularly voice-only calls, surged during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain healthcare access.
- French health authorities initially supported teleconsultation for cancer treatment continuity but later mandated video format.
- This study evaluates voice-only teleconsultation's impact on ambulatory surgery outcomes for breast cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficiency of preanesthesia teleconsultation via voice call without videoconferencing.
- To compare ambulatory surgery failure rates for breast cancer surgery based on consultation type (in-person vs. voice-only teleconsultation).
- To evaluate patient acceptance of voice-only teleconsultations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 1,006 women undergoing ambulatory breast surgery.
- Comparison of ambulatory failure rates (unplanned overnight stay) across three groups: pre-COVID in-person, COVID voice-only teleconsultation, and COVID in-person consultations.
- Data collected from a cancer center evaluating pre- and post-teleconsultation implementation.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in ambulatory failure rates was found between voice-only teleconsultation (4%) and in-person consultations (3.8% pre-COVID, 2.4% during COVID).
- Voice-only teleconsultations were highly accepted by patients, with no reported refusals.
- The study indicates voice-only teleconsultation did not negatively impact ambulatory surgery success rates.
Conclusions:
- Teleconsultation via voice call without videoconferencing is an effective and acceptable alternative for preanesthesia consultations in ambulatory breast cancer surgery.
- This modality maintained surgical efficiency without increasing failure rates during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Further multicenter research is recommended to validate findings and explore long-term clinical integration.
